I am joining up with Tina at Carrots ‘n’ Cake and accepting her Lose the Dough for the Big 3-0 challenge. We are both 1980 babies, and so will be turning 30 this year! Wow, that is strange to think about… It’s amazing how fast we go through life, eh?

Well, in preparation for my 30th Birthday, I am beginning this challenge with the hope of being in better shape as I enter this next decade of my life. If you have read my About page, you may have noticed that I lost about 25 lbs. last year (plus another 5 so far this year). I did not start up any of the fad diets, or drive myself to near insanity by starving my body in an attempt to shed the weight. I simply started eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, and tried to incorporate more regular workouts into my weekly routine.

Why start the “Lose the Dough” challenge?

With my weight loss from last year, I am feeling much better about my body, but I still realize that I have a little ways to go before I can consider myself “healthy”. I like that this challenge sets something specific to strive toward, and it may provide a little extra motivation along the way. Like Tina, I still do not consider this a “diet”, but I think my reasoning is slightly different. I actually don’t intend to make any adjustments to the plan I am currently following. I have already been practicing these healthy changes for several months now, and simply intend for this challenge to help make sure I stay on track.

Goals

My goals for this challenge are simple. I wanted to set something measurable and concrete, so that I am able to track my progress, and have a true point of successful completion. So, instead of just saying “I want to lose weight” or “I want to be in better shape”, I am setting a goal of losing another 15 lbs. by my Birthday. While the challenge itself will stop at my Birthday, I hope to continue these changes I have made, reaffirming them as a part of my new lifestyle.

I will turn 30 on August 17, 2010, so I have 6 months starting yesterday. I think 6 months is a pretty reasonable time frame, especially considering that the last few will be during the summer when I can just walk outside and start sweating. If you do the quick math, 15 lbs. over 6 months, is really just a loss of 2.5 lbs. per month. I think this goal should be very attainable, but yet will still be challenging enough to make me work for it.

Looking Back

Last weekend, Abby and I were looking through some pictures of us at our wedding (July 2004), and it was surprising to see the much thinner (and younger) version of myself. It’s amazing how the slow, consistent gain of a few pounds a year really starts to add up after several years. The good news is… I think these last 15 lbs. will put me back at pretty much the same weight I was when we got married.

The Plan

As I mentioned before, I do not intend to make any changes beyond what I am already doing regarding my exercise. The reason I can say that is because I am currently training for a half-marathon, so I am really getting about all the exercise my body can handle! I do intend to continue running after the race, but obviously at much lower distances. I am following a 16-week training schedule, leading up to the race on April 24. Right now, I am running just over 20 miles / week, and after the race, I hope to get back to somewhere in the 15 – 20 range.

Regarding my food intake: I am sure I will make some more adjustments over the course of this challenge, but don’t worry… I will still make plenty of decadent, tasty recipes to share with all of you. While I will be cutting back on my calories, I still intend to eat whatever delicious desserts I want… just in smaller portions.

Wish me Luck!